As most of you know by now, 2019 is going to be a big year for us! I’ve been absent from my blog for a bit for a few reasons: a) it’s really hard to write about anything else when you have a big secret and b) being pregnant is EXHAUSTING. However, I’ve been drafting this for a couple of weeks now and since the big secret is out, I can reminisce about this past year. As New Year’s Eve approached there were tons of memes roasting 2018 as a crap year and aside from the political climate that I’m not gonna discuss, I have to firmly disagree. As a matter of fact, it has been one of the best years I’ve had in a while. I started my own business at the beginning of the year. I didn’t really get motivated to promote it and expand until a couple of months in but I’m still doing it, almost a year later, and my doctor says I can continue until I become uncomfortable. In March we added our second baby to the family and it feels as though she has always been here. Which may speak to her overwhelming presence but we love her and couldn’t imagine life without her at this point. Philip and I traveled more this year than we ever have. We’ve been further away before but exploring more of the U.S. was great, too. We visited NYC twice, both different learning experiences; the first a learning experience about how much we hate traveling with other people, especially on a bus, and how easy it is to go the wrong direction on the subway. That lesson didn’t stick because we learned it a second time. I learned that I love that city but only in small doses. I also learned how much I appreciate my home, although not big or grand, it’s a nice place to be. We celebrated our ten year wedding anniversary and sixteen years together with a trip to Ocean City, MD, the first place we ever vacationed together. We got to experience San Diego together, the city with the best weather in the United States. While I wouldn’t mind 70’s and sunny all year round, paying 3x our mortgage for a one bedroom apartment is not something I ever want to do. I got to go to Phoenix with my co-workers/friends and had a great time. That’s definitely a place I would love to visit again with Philip. After our second NYC trip in the fall and the holidays started to settle in, our baby dog turned one and we found out she is going to be a middle child. A role that will not suit her well, I’m afraid. The end of the year brought Sansa’s third birthday, a day we were told would be the magical start to her becoming a calm being (which actually happened much sooner, with the addition of the wild child), and we had a nice visit with Philip’s parents over Christmas.
Maybe it’s the hormones or this crazy Blood Moon but I wanted to make sure I acknowledged how grateful I am for all the experiences I had last year, even the bad ones, because they help shape you into a better person, if you let them. I don’t think anything can prepare you for a first pregnancy. With my job I’ve known many pregnant women and heard lots of about morning sickness and back pain and fatigue but you just don’t truly grasp how that feels until you experience it. Don’t worry though, I’ve described it as best I can in a blog I’ll be sharing with Philip. It’s not ready just yet but I’ll post the link as soon as it is!
You guys have missed all kinds of fun moments so let’s get to it:
This ball squeaks. It gets hidden often. I love the look of disgust on Sansa’s face. I feel ya, babe.
One of my favorite Christmas gifts from Philip 😃.
As well as this one. Although, I can’t stand to drink coffee at the moment 🤮. I’m hoping the taste for it will come back after delivery!
A very thoughtful gift from my friend Chris 😍. I got a similar one from my friend Michelle but I forgot to take a pic before I put it away. Sorry!
My pretty, happy girl.
Being a dog is tiring.
She’s so sweet when she’s sleeping.
Practicing for the baby.
We moved her crate out of the way to take the baby announcement photo and she just couldn’t help herself, she had to go inside while it was on the couch 🙄. I was getting hopeful that we were at the point where she could be left out of her crate while we aren’t home but she proved me wrong when she chewed on a couch cushion 😡.
This is her hiding spot when she’s scared or pouting. I made squishing noises with my mouth and she didn’t like it 😂.
Soph being totally inconspicuous while I was eating 🙄. Do you see that mess of toys on the floor? They do a good job preparing us for a toddler. We pick those up several times a day.
And this is what she does when she gets me out of bed and wants me to pay attention to her. Sorry for the grainy pic. It was early and dark out 😑.
It’s not dark out right now though. This full moon makes it a bad night to be a thief. Anyone planning on staying up to see the lunar eclipse? I doubt I’ll make it. My bed is calling my name. I don’t know what direction this blog will take as I prepare for motherhood and have less time for hobbies but I hope you all will stay along for the ride! 😉
